Spinners Taijul Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz showcased their prowess on the turning track in Mirpur, wreaking havoc on New Zealand's batting lineup. On the opening day of the Mirpur Test, the duo orchestrated a stunning collapse, reducing the visitors to a precarious 55 for 5 in response to Bangladesh's modest total of 172.
The spinners accounted for 13 out of the 15 wickets that fell on the first day. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was particularly effective, claiming three wickets, while Taijul Islam added two more to New Zealand's misery at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. By the 46th over, the visitors found themselves reeling at 46 for 5.
Play concluded prematurely at 4:16 pm, 14 minutes ahead of the scheduled end, as bad light marred the proceedings on a gloomy day in Dhaka. Daryl Mitchell (12*) and Glenn Phillips (5*) managed to remain unbeaten, steering New Zealand through a challenging period after losing half of their side in just 49 minutes into their first innings.
Miraz dismissed opener Devon Conway (11), who misjudged an arm ball, while Taijul Islam accounted for Tom Latham (4) and Henry Nicholls (1). Miraz continued his impressive spell, taking two wickets in three balls in the 12th over, removing the key wickets of Kane Williamson (13) and Tom Blundell (0).
In the earlier part of the day, Bangladesh's batting woes unfolded as their spin trio struggled against New Zealand's bowling attack. Glenn Phillips (3-31), Mitchell Santner (3-65), and Ajaz Patel (2-54) combined to take eight wickets, with Tim Southee cleaning up the tail.
A critical moment in the innings occurred when Mushfiqur Rahim (35) became the first Bangladeshi batsman to be given out for obstructing the field. Mushfiqur and Shahadat Hossain (31) had initiated a revival with a 57-run partnership after Bangladesh had slumped to 47 for 4.
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